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HOUSTON — The federal government is committing nearly $150 million toward construction of three wind farms off the U.S. coast, a move intended to generate power from the renewable source by 2017.

Europe and Asia already have developed wind farms in their waters. But the United States has yet to generate a watt despite an offshore wind capacity estimated at 4 million megawatts, which is significantly more than the nation’s coal-fired power plants produce.

Europe started with turbines capable of producing two to three megawatts, Matzat said. But the Energy Department is expecting the newly funded projects to produce five or six megawatts per turbine.

Grid managers in Texas — which leads the nation in onshore wind power–say one megawatt can provide power for about 500 residences under normal conditions.

The demonstration projects, which were announced this week, will be located off the coasts of New Jersey, Oregon and Virginia. Austin-based Baryonyx, which has proposed a wind farm off South Padre Island, failed to make the cut.

OTC brings thousands to Houston

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Matthew Tresaugue joined the Houston Chronicle in 2005 after working for newspapers in California, where his beats included land-use development, higher education and Major League Baseball. At the Houston Chronicle, he has covered the environment, reporting on science, policy and politics in areas including air quality, water supply, the Gulf of Mexico and global warming.

About Fuel Fix

FuelFix.com is your daily must-read source for news and analysis on the energy business. Anchored by business reporters at the Houston Chronicle and other Hearst newspapers, FuelFix incorporates blogs by energy experts, market updates, useful data and a real-time summary of the top ideas, hottest stories and latest news.